Setting: the aircraft carrier IJN Kaga.
Sana: Oh wow, they've made a mural at the conning tower! We have to take a picture.
Dahyun glances at her phone to see the time, looking a little annoyed.
Dahyun: We're really short on time and these lunch reservations were super hard to get, I'm not sure...
Sana: Oh come on, it's one picture. It'll take like 3 seconds!
Dahyun: Ugh, fine, babe. Just one picture, though.
Sana: Just one picture. Let me just ask someone to take it...
Dahyun walks over to the conning tower of Kaga as Sana glances around the busy flight deck, where the pilots and crew are walking by. She notices Sana's best friend, Momo, and stops her.
Sana: Hi! Would you mind taking a quick picture of me and my honey-bunch?
Momo: Eyyy if weren't you two! Of course! No problem at all!
Sana: Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.
Sana hands Momo her phone, but Momo looks down at it doubtfully.
Momo: Oh, you don't have the iPhone XVI? It's really the only way I take pictures now.
Sana: Oh, uh, no, I haven't gotten around to buying it yet.
Momo sighs, gathers herself, and smiles bravely.
Momo: You know what, it's daijoubu. You seem super nice, so I can make an exception.
Sana looks confused but smiles gratefully.
Sana: Oh, well, thank you so much, again.
They walk over to where Dahyun is waiting next to the conning tower. Dahyun and Sana put their arms around each other and smile. Momo raises the phone and takes a picture, then looks at it critically. Dahyun and Sana start to walk over to her.
Dahyun: Thanks for helping out, bestie.
Momo: Actually you know, no offense, it just looks a little awkward. Do you just want to take another one really quick?
Dahyun: Nani? We actually really don't have the time--
Sana: (cutting her GF off) Hai, that would be great. Just one more would be great.
Momo: Awesome! OK, this time, why don't you, uhh (she gestures at Dahyun)--what's the name of this ship again?
Dahyun: Uh, it's the aircraft carrier IJN Kaga.
Momo: Ah yeah, right, why don't you, like, sort of squat down in front.
They walk back to the conning tower and Dahyun looks annoyed, but Sana gives her a meaningful look and nods encouragingly. Dahyun crouches slowly into an awkward squat. (Like that from their MV "Feel Special".)
Momo: Awesome, this looks great. So now smile, but not totally. Keep your mouth closed. Smile like you have a secret, or like you're thinking something really deep and meaningful.
She takes a couple pictures, moving around to get different angles, crouching and standing on her tiptoes. She looks very professional, and Dahyun and Sana stay in their position, looking bemused.
Momo: Ooh, sugoi darou ne...
Dahyun: (reaching out for the phone) Great, thank you again. We should really--
Momo: Now let's try it with serious faces, like pensive, really deep thoughts.
Sana: Should Dahyunie stay squatting, or--?
Dahyun: Nandato?
Momo: Yeah, let's keep that for now. And you--how's life with Dahyun-ah?
Sana: Dahyun and I are living the life!
Momo: Okay Sana, you just sort of lean back against the conning tower, put one foot up against it. Be casual but also serious.
She takes more pictures as a crowd starts to gather around them. A couple pilots offer suggestions, like "Have her lean a little to the right," and "Try a higher angle." Momo starts to change up the shots more frequently now; bright pop music starts playing from somewhere, like a real photoshoot.
Momo: Now turn around and face the tower, look up at it. Sana, take your hair down! Now look at each other and laugh! Yes, so cute!
She looks around the crowd and summoned their fellow crewmates Mina, Nayeon and Jeongyeon.
Also Momo: Just jump in there to fill out the shot. Be natural! Talk with each other, just have fun with it!
Dahyun and Sana look more and more awkward until Dahyun finally steps out.
Dahyun: Oh my god, OK, YAMERO!!! (the music cuts off)
Momo takes a few last pictures, then sighs and hands her the phone.
Momo: Yeah, so, I took a few, to be honest with you the lighting wasn't that great.
Sana and Dahyun look down at the phone and their jaws drop open. The photos are perfectly shot, crystal clear, and flattering from every angle.
Sana: No, no, these are great, like, literally perfect. Wow. A-Arigato?
Dahyun: Yeah, so uh, arigato gozaimashita.
They start to walk away, but Momo catches up to them.
Momo: I'm actually free for the next couple hours if you guys need help with filters, or cropping, or a caption or anything.
Sana: Oh no, I deleted my Instagram by mistake, but I'll make one later.
Momo gapes at her, almost speechless. The pilots from before, still hanging out behind her, gasps in unison.
Momo: NANIIIIIIIIIII?!
Fin.
PS. At last!
YOU ARE READING
Diary of the Imperial Japanese Navy
De TodoA collection of stories whose settings are located within various ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The author has no intention of glorifying the IJN; furthermore, this version of the Imperial Japanese Navy is located in an alternate universe.
